Simmons First National Bank has contributed $25,000 to the UCA Honors College to establish the Simmons First National Bank Endowed Student Assistance Fund.
Recipients will be Honors College students who are enrolled full time, with a grade point average of 3.5 and junior standing. Students also must demonstrate financial need. The fund will assist these students with tuition, fees, books, or even travel and study abroad.
With a record enrollment this year of more than 500 students, the UCA Honors College has been recognized nationally as outstanding. With the increased Honors student numbers comes the need to provide each one with the tools necessary to have a successful college experience.
Of the 143 members of this year?s freshman class who are from the United States, 78 had ACT scores of 30 or above, 17 of which were 32 or above. With a median ACT of 30, this class includes seven National Merit scholars.
Bill F. Johnson, president of Simmons, along with Ritchie Howell, senior bank vice president, presented the check Tuesday to UCA President Lu Hardin and representatives from the Honors College.
?Simmons First is committed to making a difference in this community. Statewide, we invest in all of the communities we have banks in. Our corporation realizes the importance of investing in higher education. Personally, my lifetime association with UCA and my contact with Dr. Norb Schedler, founder of the UCA Honors College, assures me that this funding will go to some of the brightest students in the state,? said Johnson.
On accepting the contribution, Hardin stated, ?This gift will substantially help our Honors College. We have one of the best Honors Colleges in the nation, literally a model for other universities. I am appreciative that Bill Johnson and Simmons Bank realize the importance of keeping the best students in Arkansas.?
-Jim Brosam
